Mr. Speaker, today the auditor general said “In my opinion the 1997-98 surplus is understated by $2.5 billion, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities as well as the accumulated deficit are overstated by the same amount”. He goes on to say “I consider this stated accounting policy to be inappropriate”.
Does the finance minister really think that the top accountant in Canada, the auditor general, is wrong? Is he saying that the auditor general, the watchdog for taxpayers, is wrong and that the finance minister is—